Translation Diagram

Front

What is a protein?

Back

Proteins are large, complex molecules made up of amino acids. They play many critical roles in the body, including supporting cell structure, facilitating biochemical reactions as enzymes, and regulating processes.

Front

What is mRNA?

Back

mRNA, or messenger RNA, is a type of RNA that carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosome, where proteins are synthesized.

Front

What is a codon?

Back

A codon is a sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that corresponds to a specific amino acid or a stop signal during protein synthesis.

Front

What is a ribosome?

Back

A ribosome is a molecular machine found within all living cells that serves as the site of protein synthesis, translating mRNA into polypeptide chains.

Front

What is an anticodon?

Back

An anticodon is a sequence of three nucleotides in tRNA that is complementary to a corresponding codon in mRNA, allowing for the correct amino acid to be added during protein synthesis.

Front

What role do proteins play in the body?

Back

Proteins are essential for the structure, function, and regulation of the body's tissues and organs. They are involved in nearly every cell function.

Front

How does mRNA differ from DNA?

Back

mRNA is single-stranded and contains uracil instead of thymine, while DNA is double-stranded and contains thymine.

Front

What is the significance of the ribosome in translation?

Back

The ribosome is crucial for translation as it reads the sequence of mRNA and assembles the corresponding amino acids to form a protein.

Front

What is the function of tRNA?

Back

tRNA, or transfer RNA, transports specific amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis, matching them to the corresponding codon in the mRNA.

Front

What is the process of translation?

Back

Translation is the process by which the sequence of nucleotides in mRNA is decoded to produce a specific polypeptide or protein.